SHUJAN asks EC to take action against MP staying in CCC poll area

Shushashoner Jonnya Nagorik (SHUJAN) called upon the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to take legal action against those who violates election code of conduct during Cumilla City Corporation (CCC).
"If anyone violates the code of conduct, the EC has the power to take action against the person. The EC can even cancel the candidacy of a candidate. The commission exercise its power," Secretary of SHUJAN Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar said at a press conference on Cumilla City Corporation (CCC) election at the National Press Club in the capital.
"The EC does not have any scope to express helplessness, as they have an inherent power to take action against those who defy its directives," he said.
SHUJAN or Citizens for Good Governance at the press conference also disclosed their analysis about the CCC election candidates' income, educational background, and the cases filed against them.
Mr Majumdar made the remarks in reaction to the comment of Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal who said on Sunday (June 12, 2022) that 'the Election Commission cannot do anything against a lawmaker if he 'dishonours' the commission's directives.
Earlier the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) issued a letter to the Cumilla Sadar Awami League lawmaker AKM Bahauddin to leave his constituency ahead of the CCC polls scheduled to be held on June 15.
The MP attended an election campaign violating the laws. But until Monday afternoon the MP was still in the area, according to SHUJAN.
"All are written in the code of conduct, which was issued in 2016 for the city corporation elections," he noted.
"All the people in the administration, ruling party and opposition party leaders will be under the Election Commission in the national election. If they decide not to follow the commission's directives, then what will happen (in a poll)?" Mr Majumdar asked.
He said the previous CCC polls in 2012 and 2017 were held peacefully and without controversies following the efforts by the EC, other concerned and stakeholders.
He said that the EC has the inherent power to do anything which was not mentioned in the regulations to make an election fair and neutral.
Mr Majumdar urged the government, election commission, political parties and other stakeholders to help hold a free, fair and peaceful CCC election.
He said that if the local MP stays in the area then election might be influenced and will favour the ruling party mayoral candidate and thus will tarnish the credibility of the Election Commission.
He also urged the voters to elect the candidates (both Mayoral and councillors posts) who are honest, competent and dedicated for the cause of the people.
"We (SHUJAN) call upon the government, election commission and other stakeholders to help cooperate collectively for ensuring a free, fair, transparent and inclusive Cumilla City Corporation election," he said.
He said that SHUJAN has been calling for long for holding free and fair elections in the country considering the interests of the voters as the citizens of the country are the real owner of the country.
He called upon the CCC voters not to vote anti-social elements like public money plunderers, loan defaulters, land grabbers, drug traders, war criminals and others.
He said that the CCC polls will prove the newly constituted EC's capability and credibility for holding national and other elections in the country in future.
He, however, thanked the EC for installing close circuit (CC) cameras at each polling centers of CCC polls. The EC installed CC cameras to ensure elections free from rigging.
Mr Majumdar hoped that members of the law enforcing agencies, government officials and candidates vying in the mayoral polls should help each other for holding a free and fair CCC poll.
"The election commission along with others stakeholders has conducted and offered a free and fair previous two CCC elections. We (SHUJAN) hope the present election commission will be able to hold a free, fair and transparent CCC election this time around," he said.
Replying to a query he said that SHUJAN does not observe elections traditionally by visiting polling centres on the ballot day rather it observes the whole election atmosphere, he said.
A total of five candidates are vying for mayoral post while 106 for general ward councillors and 36 for reserved councillors seats, according to the findings of SHUJAN.
Out of mayoral candidates, the educational qualification of one candidate has a post graduation degree while two have graduation degrees, one has Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and the rest one has obtained Secondary School Certificate (SSC) certificate.
However, according to the affidavits submitted by five mayoral candidates to the EC, they have no bank loans or liabilities.
Dilip Kumar Sarcar and Ekram Hossain of SHUJAN were also present at the event.

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